Description
Notes From John
BPM = 122. Huge part — lots of percussion and syncopation. Main beat sounds like a drum machine; Simmons-style toms and layered hats/shakers adapted to a normal kit.
For the player
Programmed cut — LinnDrum-era groove with layered percussion — hit it cold. John adapted the machine beat, Simmons-style tom fills, and layered hats/shakers to a live kit — play what’s written, don’t invent extra percussion over the Latin pulse. Opens on agogo/cowbell with tip-of-stick markings — use the tip where the dots are. Open hats are marked — bark the opens where John wrote the circle. Drum Breakdown at 0:32 uses nearest rim — leave it on the rim. Chorus opens (“Come on, shake…”); Beat In at 0:17; Chorus at 0:25. Drum Breakdown at 0:32; Intro at 0:48. Verse 1 at 1:04 (“Everybody, gather ’round…”); Chorus at 1:41. Verse 2 at 1:57 (“Feel the fire…”); Breakdown at 2:28; Piano Solo at 2:44; Chorus at 3:00. Horn Solo at 3:15; Percussion Solo at 3:23; Chorus at 3:39; Outro at 3:55 (“Come on, shake…”). Accents, ghosts, stickings, and cowbell stay as written. Listen first; at BPM = 122 the job is the feel.
Drum Sheet Music for “Conga” by Gloria Estefan
